Anthropology: Different Faces in a Different Country

A Little Traveler- 
What a Class is like Abroad: Sculptures, Drawing, and Anatomy

         A class abroad is not all that different from a class here in Ohio, except you have the entire city of Florence as your classroom! A class abroad can change who you are as a student and inspire your mind. It pushes you to step beyond the line and learn something different through a hands on living abroad experience. My anthropology class was centered around human head anatomy in anthropology. My first blog post explains the first week of classes in Florence.

       During the first week of classes we went to La Academia and the Bargello. We were asked to compare each interpretation of the David. Michelangelo's David is very different that Donatello's. In the anthropology class it was interesting to see both statues in person rather than trying to analyze two pictures of the statues. As both statues are from different art periods we as students had to take into account how art during the periods would have influenced the sculptors. We also compared and contrasted the anatomy and perspective of muscles and different parts of the body and how it influences the appearance. In Michelangelo's David, the boy is not a boy but rather a man and does not include the head of Goliath at the feet. Donatello's David is very clearly a boy and the anatomy is not nearly as anatomically correct, but the detail in Goliath's dead head is quite detailed.

       During our next weeks we were able to visit the anthropology museum which contained many different skulls and displays of our ancestors pasts. In the second picture this was a display of the Sri Lankan people and their artifacts. This was particularly interesting to me because I did not think that I could see the history of my ancestors all the way in Italy! We were also given time to look at skulls in the anthropology lab at the university thanks to Professor Moggi. We were also given the incredible opportunity of looking at the vast skull collection that the university has including a giant skeleton! Being in Florence and getting the opportunity to see this many skulls in one place and analyzing the jaws and head structure of them is a privilege that I would not get if I had not gone abroad.

    Throughout the month that we were in Florence we learned how to sculpt the front of skulls by using the model skulls that Dr. Spurlock brought for us. I sculpted the petite Asian woman. We used our hands to fells the creases and smooth edges of the skull. We were surprised when we made the eye sockets and cheek bones as to how many details go into it. We also had extra clay so we learned how to sculpt ears which I personally found much easier. We were even able to fire one piece each in the kiln and I got to fire my skull which was my favorite souvenir that I brought back. There were only ten of us in this class which made it very nice as we had a very hands on approach with the sculpting.

          My favorite part of the whole class was getting to use the tissue depth markers to reconstruct a face. I am not by any means an artist, but I surprisingly really enjoyed sketching faces and analyzing the shapes and curves on the skulls, teeth, and nasal cavity.

          This class is one of my most favorite. I most likely would never have gotten to take it if I had not made the decision to study abroad. I did not think that I would enjoy the art aspect of the class, but Dr. Spurlock really encouraged us as students to step out of our comfort zones and try something new and experience Florence as a part of the course. Study abroad opens the mind to new opportunities that I never thought possible. It made me a more well rounded student and taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to.  If you have the opportunity to study abroad I highly recommend it and the Education Abroad Office and the College of Arts and Sciences is incredibly helpful. 

Until the next adventure, Ciao! 

A Little Traveler